We interrupt this series on “What can a stager do for me?” for a special announcement: it’s gorgeous outside!
So what, you ask yourself, does this have to do with staging? Everything! When you’re selling your house, every part of it - inside and out - has to look its best. Spring is the perfect time of year to make the outside of your house as beautiful as the inside. All around us, trees are blossoming, flowers are blooming, and the sky is a deep blue (at least for now). If you’re selling your home, or even thinking about it, now’s the time to take steps to give your house instant curb appeal by fixing up your garden. Even if you’re waiting to sell, you can capitalize on the great weather and spring colors now by taking pictures of your garden at its peak. Later, when you do decide to sell, you can include these pictures in marketing materials to show potential buyers how great the place can look.
Here are some things you can do now to give your house picture-perfect curb appeal:
- “Declutter” greenery. Just like kids, plants grow up! Cut greenery back to highlight your property. Overgrown shrubs make a property look uninhabited and unkempt.
- Take care of pathways. An easy fix to update concrete paths is to buy some concrete stain or paint at your local hardware store. It makes a world of difference! With brick or stone paths, cut back or remove weeds coming up through the cracks, and replace cracked stones.
- Try out some new patio furniture. Outdoor furniture takes a beating, and if you’re selling, it’s probably worth the investment in a new furniture set, even if it’s a small one. Bed, Bath and Beyond usually has some affordable, good-looking options.
- Bring in color. For a quick fix, just placing some already-blooming flowers around your home’s entryway will give it more visual interest. If you have some more time, buy some colorful annuals and plant them in a border around your yard or a special tree.
- Clean up scruffy trees. A great way to hide tree roots is to place large river stones around the tree’s base. Cut back any scrawny, odd branches.
- Remove old toys and lawn ornaments. You’re not selling your pink flamingo collection, so why take away attention from your home? It’s best to pack these items up before posting the “For Sale” sign in the yard.
For more advice on how to give your house curb appeal, get opinions from your Realtor, stager and gardener. If you don’t have a gardener, but are selling your property, it’s a good idea to bring in a professional for a one-time clean-up.
If you’re not selling your place, get out there and enjoy this weather!
Tags: Real estate
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8 responses so far ↓
1 Marc // Mar 23, 2007 at 11:54 am
I am impressed with your blog. This post was a very good one for people who are going to sell their home this season.
I am an article writer for SavePress.com. I found your blog in Google. I will return because I like your writing style. It is nice to see fresh and interesting posts.
I also just finished an article on ‘How to Sell Your Home Faster’. If you would like to read it, here is the URL: http://www.savepress.com/home-selling-tips.html
Keep writing great posts. I’m a new fan!
2 Kevin Boer, Realtor, 3 Oceans Real Estate // Mar 23, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Hi Marc,
Thanks for dropping by, and glad you like this site. Can you tell us what Savepress does?
3 Marc // Mar 24, 2007 at 10:04 am
Sure Kevin, Thanks for asking. SavePress is a company that I formed for consumer awareness purposes. I and other writers contribute articles that help people reach their goals and dreams.
I have compiled hundreds of articles to help people with money management issues. The main focus of our site is money and investing. SavePress has a guide on consumer credit help, articles about real estate and mortgages.
In a nutshell, SavePress is a champion of the American consumer by saving them time and money with solid information on financial issues.
I invite everyone to grab a donut and coffee and stop in to the Savepress site. You might leave with a good idea or two. Have a good day, Marc.
4 kabababrubarta // Mar 26, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Nice site! kabababrubarta
5 Ann O’Connell Wins Bronze | 3 Oceans -- The San Francisco Bay Area Real Estate Blog // Mar 27, 2007 at 7:28 am
[...] Our very own Ann O’Connell, a stager who contributes stellar content to compliment her stellar staging, won this week’s bronze with her entry on taking advantage of the current spate of good weather (yesterday being an exception) to make your home presentable. [...]
6 » Heavy Metal for the Carnival of Consumer Real Estate-Silicon Valley Real Estate Blog, Bay Area: 1SiliconValley.com by Steve Leung // Mar 27, 2007 at 12:18 pm
[...] This week, 1SiliconValley.com has the honor of hosting the Carnival. Past winners have ranged from the humorous A Dumpster Is Cheaper Than Selling the House to the practical Influencing Real Estate Appraisal and the informative What Can a Stager Do for Me. [...]
7 RE Agent in CT » I Win The Carnival Eh // Mar 27, 2007 at 7:30 pm
[...] Bronze went to Ann O’Connell: What Can A Stager Do For Me - It’s Gorgeous Outside [...]
8 Athol Kay // Mar 29, 2007 at 3:40 pm
Good post. Don’t forget the state of repair of the mailbox either.
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